Midtown Plaza (Rochester)

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Midtown Plaza is a shopping mall in downtown Rochester, New York.

Designed by Victor Gruen, Midtown Plaza opened on January 7, 1961 as the first downtown indoor mall in the United States. The idea for this mall started with discussions between Gilbert J.C. McCurdy, owner of the McCurdy's department stores and Maurice F Forman, owner of the B. Forman Co. department stores. At this time strip plazas were growing in popularity. These two owners, concerned that these plazas would take their business away, came up with the idea of an indoor shopping center. The mall has gone through many changes, and many stores throughout the years. Both the McCurdy and B. Forman Company stores went out of business in 1994. In 1995, Wegmans closed their Midtown Plaza location. But other stores have come in to take their place. The Peebles department store now occupies the first floor of the B. Forman Department store.

Each Christmas, Midtown Plaza brings in one of the tallest indoor Christmas Trees in the area. The mall also sets up an indoor monorail ride for children 10 and under.

Midtown Plaza is also famous for its Clock of Nations. The clock, which represents 12 nations, has 12 cylinders each with a scene with puppets for each nation. Each half hour the cylinders with the nations would open, and they would all rotate.

Located directly underneath Midtown Plaza is a 3 level, 1843 space parking garage.